The effect of personal use and family history on the attitudes of medical students toward alcohol and drug users

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of the personal exposure/usage of alcohol and drugs in medical students on their attitudes toward alcohol and drug users. Negative attitudes in health care practitioners about alcohol and drug users may lead to poor patient care. Personal experience on alcohol and drug use can influence the attitudes of health care professionals.Method: This study used a quantitative cross-sectional methodology, utilizing a self-report survey on the personal use of alcohol and drug use, and the family history of alcohol and tobacco use. The “Substance Abuse Attitude Survey” (Chappel J. N., Veach, T. L., & Krug, R. S. (1985). The Substance Abuse Attitude Survey: An instrument for measuring attitudes. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 46, 48–52.) measured attitudes (n = 417).Results: The attitudes of medical students towards alcohol and drug users were weakly linked to their own personal use, and family history of alcohol and drug use. Increased use of alcohol was positively correlated with non-stereotyping. Length of time in medical school, number of years drinking alcohol, and high frequency of binge drinking were negatively correlated with non-moralism.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the attitudes of future medical professionals are fairly neutral toward alcohol and drug users. Given that alcohol and drug abuse are now considered medical illnesses health professionals themselves may attach fewer stigmas and stereotypes to the use and abuse of alcohol.